Sliding abdominal exercise device

ABSTRACT

A compact, easily storable abdominal exercise device is described that provides a sliding (to-and-fro) form of exercise for a seated user. In addition, the cushion may rotate so that it can also allow a swinging/twisting motion. Consequently, the sliding and/or the sliding+twisting modes of the exercise device allow a greater range of motions for exercising the muscles of the waist and help to stimulate firming and toning of the waist areas more effectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an exercise device. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise device incorporating a waist-oriented, sliding motion for the user.

BACKGROUND

Exercise devices are available that are tailored to different types of fitness exercises, basically working on a part of the body or different muscles or muscle groups. These exercise devices include treadmills, stationary bikes and weight training machines, etc. These exercise devices are typically very large in size and are inconvenient for storing, particularly for users who have limited living space available to them.

One exercise device that is somewhat compact is described in Chinese Utility Model patent no. CN2897325, titled “Swing Torque Fitness Device,” which discloses a fitness device achieving exercise motions through turning the body in a limited torquing/swiveling manner. It is relatively small in size and is convenient for storing. In FIG. 1, of the CN2897325 patent, the body 1 comprises a lower bracket 11, swivel wheel assembly 12 and regulator 13. The swivel wheel assembly 12 is located above the middle bracket 111 of the lower bracket 11, and in the swivel wheel assembly 12 there is a rotating component 121, which allows the upper wheel 122 of the swivel wheel assembly 12 to rotate 360 degrees relative to the bottom wheel 123. Anti-slip belt 131 and regulator 13 are set on the outer edge of the upper wheel 122, to permit tightening of the anti-slip belt 131 to control the regulator 13, which the upper wheel 122 requires for swiveling. When the body 1 is connected with stand 14, a chair is composed. The seated user can then swivel his or her waist when sitting, exercising waist muscles to improve the waist's shape.

However, since this exercise device can only exercise the waist by a swiveling motion, the user must use this exercise device for a very long time to achieve some results.

Therefore, there has been a long standing need for an exercise device that allows waist muscles to be more efficiently exercised, while also maintaining a compact size. Details of such a device are described in the following sections.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

One aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding abdominal machine is provided, comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; and a cushion coupled to the slide seat.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding abdominal machine is provided, comprising: means for supporting a user in a sitting position; means for gripping the means for supporting; means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting; means for sitting; means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; and means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a seated form of exercising is provided, comprising: sitting on a seat of an exercise device comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; and a cushion coupled to the slide seat; gripping the gripping section; first engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat upward in a first direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail; and second engaging the at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat in a second, opposite direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the claimed subject matter may be employed and the claimed subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. As such, other aspects of the disclosure are found throughout the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is 1 is a structure drawing of a prior art swiveling abdominal exercise device;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a movement schematic drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise device;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional exploded view drawing of another exemplary sliding abdominal exercise device; and

FIG. 6 is a movement schematic drawing of the exemplary sliding abdominal exercise device of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of an exercise device disclosed herein provide for a sliding motion for exercise, which can engage the muscles of the side and abdomen for a to-and-fro like motion. In addition, a cushion in various embodiments may swing about a sliding seat, so that it can also allow a swinging/twisting motion. Consequently, the sliding and/or the sliding+twisting modes of the exemplary exercise device allow a greater range of motions for exercising the muscles of the waist and help to stimulate firming and toning of the waist areas more effectively.

In various exemplary embodiments, the exercise device comprises a rigidity providing or anti-sway providing bracket, a sliding seat and a cushion, wherein coupled to the bracket(s) are stands with ground contacting members which can support the exercise device above the ground. Each stand has an arc-shaped handle portion that is provided on the top of the stand. The stands are connected with two substantially parallel, arced sliding rails. The middle of the arced sliding rail is lower than the ends of the arced sliding rail. An anti-escape member (or anti-derailment member) and a plurality of sliding surfaces/wheels are provided on either side of the sliding seat/frame. The anti-escape member constrains the sliding seat/frame from derailing from the arced sliding rail(s), and the sliding surfaces/wheels are movably mounted to the arced sliding rail(s). The cushion is set on the sliding seat/frame, and a swiveling structure is provided between them to allow the cushion to rotate on the sliding seat/frame.

When using the exemplary exercise device, the user can sit on the cushion, hold the two arc-shaped handle portions, and engage the abdominal muscles to make the sliding seat/frame move in a to-and-fro like manner along the arced sliding rails. Additionally, in another embodiment, the user can also swing his/her hips in a twisting/rotational motion due to the function of the swiveling structure. With either the sliding motion or the sliding+swiveling motion, an increased effectiveness of exercise can be achieved, while in a sitting position.

Compared to the larger sized prior art devices, the exemplary exercise device is not only simpler in structure, but also smaller in size, so that it can used while only requiring a small amount of space and, when not in use, be easily stored due to its compact size.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the exemplary exercise device comprises a series of coupled elements. A bracket 2 is coupled to stands 21 to provide lateral restraint and structural rigidity of the stands 21 to reduce any swaying or flexing that may occur. The stands 21 are illustrated as generally upside-down, U-shaped supports having an arced upper region 22 at a near mid-section of the stands 21. The surface of the arced upper region 22 is covered with an anti-slip material 221 to accommodate the user's hands. The bottom of the stands 21 form feet and may have optional anti-slip cushions 211, which can be used as friction elements to secure the stand ends/feet from sliding on the floor. The two stands 21 are connected with two parallel arced sliding rails 23 that are coupled to either the bracket 2 or to the stands 21, depending on design implementation. The middle of the arced sliding rails 23 is lower than the ends of the arced sliding rails 23.

A sliding seat 3 contains several elements and is illustrated with an “H”-shaped slide frame 31. An anti-escape member 32 (or anti-derailment member) is disposed on the lower side of the slide frame 31, having a tab or a protruding element on a bottom of the arced sliding rails 23. A sliding member or wheel 33 is positioned on a downward facing side of the slide frame 31. The slide frame 31 is set on arced sliding rails 23 with the sliding member or wheel 33 movably mounted on the arced sliding rails 23. The sliding seat 3 is limited by the anti-escape member 32, so it cannot disengage from the arced sliding rails 23 when sliding. Moreover, because the middle of the arced sliding rails 23 is lower than its edges, the sliding seat 3 will normally rest in the middle of the arced sliding rail 23 due to gravity.

Cushion 4 is set on the top of the sliding seat 3, and may be made of an elastic material, such as sponge, foam, and so on, in order to provide user 49 comfort when exercising. Additionally, the cushion 4 may be composed of several different materials or “layers” of cushions.

When using the machine, the user can sit on the cushion 4, for example, in its resting lower “gravity” position at the center of the of arced sliding rails 23, and with the user's hands holding the two upper regions 22 of the stands 21, use the abdominal muscles to slide the sliding seat 3 in a to-and-fro motion on the arced sliding rails 23. Generally, the motion will be one of rising upward with the arcs of the sliding rails 23 when approaching the ends of the sliding rails 23 and falling downward to the center of the arcs of the sliding rails 23 when approaching the middle of the sliding rails 23. The full range of movement of the sliding seat 3 will be limited by the length of the arced sliding rails 23, and because of the arced shape of the arced sliding rails 23, the user will experience a lateral to-and-fro motion. The amount of difficulty of the exercise can be increased by increasing the amount of arcing in the arced sliding rails 23. Accordingly, a easy to execute fitness exercise using a “natural” sliding motion can be performed without requiring a great deal of strength, while in a sitting position. The exemplary sliding exercise device described herein is not only simple in structure, but also small in size, requiring only as much space as a chair. Furthermore, because of its small size, it can be easily stored.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, to improve the exercising effect on the muscles of the abdomen or waist region, a swivel structure is placed between the above mentioned cushion 4 and sliding seat 3. The swivel structure generally comprises a spindle 41, which is set approximately at the center of a bottom of seat plate 45 of the cushion 4 and the spindle sleeve 34, which is set approximately at the center of the slide frame 31. The spindle 41 is movably set in the spindle sleeve 34, and the cushion 4, being secured in some embodiments to seat plate 45, can swivel about the slide frame 31. While it is understood that the swivel structure is shown and described as being coupled at a near center point of the respective elements, it should be appreciated that swiveling structures that have non-center located swiveling mechanisms may be used, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, a spinnable ring-like structure may be used, or a ball bearing or disc assembly, and so forth.

In addition to the above, one or more cushioning members 35 can be positioned on top of the sliding frame 31. There can also be several spacers 42 on the bottom of the cushion 4. When the cushion 4 swivels about the slide frame 31 (or the cushion 4), the length of the spacers 42 will be restricted by either the cushioning members 35 or the non-open areas of the sliding frame 31. That is, the range of swiveling motion afforded to the user can be constrained by controlling the free sweep of the cushion, as determined by the spacers 42 hitting the cushioning members 35 or hitting any other restraining mechanism desired. Therefore, when the sliding seat 3 is moving on the arced sliding rails 23 in its “to-and-fro” motion, the user can also incorporate a swiveling motion that may be full range or limited, depending on the spacer 42 lengths.

Additionally, as described in FIGS. 2-4 above, anti-slip material 221 can be placed on the “top” of the stands 21, and non-slide cushions 211 can be placed on the bottom of the stands 21.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user performing a sliding motion and a swiveling motion with the exemplary exercise device, and is understood to be self-explanatory.

It should be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the number or shape of the arced sliding rail(s), the shape of the sliding seat, or the shape and the material of the cushion, and so on, are within the scope of this disclosure. Changes such as, modifying the shape of the cushion to round, or square or any other geometry, are understood as supported by this disclosure. Also, while the exemplary embodiments illustrate two separate stands 21, the use of a single, larger stand may be used, according to design preference.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; and a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail.
 2. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the gripping section is covered with an anti-slip material.
 3. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of stands, brackets and arc-shaped slide rails, the arc-shaped slide rails being positioned substantially in parallel to each other.
 4. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 3, wherein the sliding member is a wheel.
 5. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the slide seat is substantially “H”-shaped and the anti-derailing member is positioned on an end of the slide seat.
 6. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a swivel between a cushion coupled to the slid seat and a portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail.
 7. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the swivel comprises: a spindle coupled to the cushion; and a spindle sleeve coupled to a portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail, wherein the spindle is rotationally set in the spindle sleeve enabling the cushion to swivel about the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail.
 8. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 7, further comprising a cushioning member positioned on a top of the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail.
 9. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 8, further comprising a spacer positioned at a bottom of the cushion, operating to limit a range of rotational motion of the cushion about the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail, wherein at the limited range of rotational motion the spacer contacts the cushioning member.
 10. A sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising: means for supporting a user in a sitting position; means for gripping the means for supporting; means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting; means for sitting; means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; and means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway.
 11. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the means for gripping is covered with an anti-slip material.
 12. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the means for sliding uses a wheel.
 13. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 10, further comprising a means for anti-derailment for the means for sliding.
 14. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 10, further comprising a means for swiveling coupled to the means for sitting and the means for sliding.
 15. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 14, wherein the means for swiveling comprises: a spindle coupled to the means for sitting; and a spindle sleeve coupled to the means for sliding.
 16. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 15, further comprising a means for cushioning positioned on a top of the means for sliding.
 17. The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 16, further comprising a means for contacting positioned at a bottom of the means for sitting, operating to limit a range of rotational motion of the means for sitting about the means for sliding, wherein at the limited range of rotational motion the means for contacting contacts the means for cushioning.
 18. A method for a seated form of exercising, comprising: sitting on a seat of an exercise device comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; and a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; gripping the gripping section; first engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat upward in a first direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail; and second engaging the at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat in a second, opposite direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail.
 19. The method for a seated form of exercising of claim 18, wherein the exercise device further comprises a swiveling mechanism between the cushion coupled to the slide seat and the slide seat, and the user further engages the at least abdominal muscles to force the cushion to swivel. 